On Mars, found old Beagle 2 lander – Science in Poland (PAP)

 In the pictures with the scientists spotted orbital probe in 2003 lost Martian lander Beagle 2 – inform space agencies: NASA and European American ESA.
 

  Beagle 2 landing was part of the Mars Express space mission, but after disconnecting from the lander spacecraft lost contact with him.

  

  Some scientists imagined in 2003 that did not work sequence Beagle 2 landing and crashed, hitting at high speed on the surface of Mars. Photos taken by the US Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), however, indicate that the Beagle 2 reached the surface of the planet and made a landing.

  

  “We are happy that the Beagle 2 touched the surface of Mars. Inspiring is the effort of various teams investigating the high-resolution images to find the old lander” – said Alvaro Giménez, ESA’s Director for. Automatic Science and Exploration.

  

  Photographs were analyzed by Michael Croon, who was once a member of the Mars Express mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA). Then more pictures and further analysis teams made Beagle 2 Mars HiRISE instrument Reconnaissance Orbiter and the staff of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

  

  Analysis confirmed that the detected objects have the right sizes, shapes and colors that match the elements of the Beagle 2 lander identified with partially unfolded solar panels (with a distributed one, two, or you have to hold for the four solar panel), the back cover, and near also the main parachute. There are also assumptions regarding the identification of airbags and possibly the front heat shield.

  

  Lander itself unfolded solar panel has a size of about 2 meters, so it is on the verge of resolution obtained provided for HiRISE camera. Objects have been identified in the area of ​​Isidis Planitia, a radius of five kilometers from the planned landing.

  

  Incomplete distribution of solar explains why there is no contact with the lander in 2003. The distribution of the panels was necessary to eject the radio antenna to transmit data and receive commands from Earth. For the same reason not be possible to restore the Beagle 2 to operate, and recover the data.

  

  Built by Great Britain came the Beagle 2 lander on Mars orbit on board Mars Express belonging to the ESA. 19 December 2003 separated from the probe and six days later he had to land on the Martian surface. Unfortunately, after the scheduled landing Beagle 2 will never spoke, and then search made using the orbiting Mars Express and Mars Odyssey American did not yield results.

  

  The Mars Express mission itself in the form of orbital probe continues. The probe has provided over the years, a number of data and still is in orbit around Mars. In December last year, the mission was extended until the end of 2018 years. (PAP)

  

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